Loading plane for tables and chairs

ABSTRACT

An improved loading plane for tables and chairs comprises at least one loading element, one connecting element and one bordering element. A plurality of the connecting elements and a plurality of the loading elements are engaged to form a loading plane which may be wound in a roll or folded. After the loading elements and the connecting elements are engaged and assembled, the bordering elements may be bonded to the edges of the loading elements to provide ornamental effect to the loading elements and to protect people from injuring by the edges of the loading elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved loading plane fortables and chairs and particularly a loading plane consisting ofconnecting loading elements to support loading of human body and goods.

[0002] Many known leisured chairs now available on the market haveloading planes (seat pads or backrests) made of metal tubes or woodenbeams coupling with fabrics or leather. During fabrication, the fabricsor leather are cut to the sizes of desired loading planes. The cutfabrics and leather are stitched on the rims to form coupling sections.Then metal tubes or wooden beams of selected sizes and lengths aredisposed into the coupling sections to form loading planes forsupporting people. There are some other types which have stitchedbinding rims formed on the fabrics or leather. Then a plurality ofapertures are formed on the binding rims to engage with spring hookswhich are in turn fastened to metal tubes or wooden beams.

[0003] The leisured chairs set forth above require a lot of processesand time in production and assembly. They are also difficult tofabricate. After using for a period of time, the stitching of thefabrics or leather could be frayed or ruptured, or the springsconnecting the fabrics (or leather) and metal tubes or wooden beamscould have material fatigue, or the metal tubes or wooden beams willresult in deformation. All this could cause undesirable using conditionsor even hazards.

[0004] In order to remedy aforesaid problems, there are other loadingplanes for leisured tables and chairs being developed and introduced.One of the examples is to form a frame made of metal tubes (or bars) tosupport the loading plane, then fasten a plurality of loading elements(plate forms) made of metal or wood to the frame. While such aconstruction is stronger and more durable for supporting human weight orgoods, it takes more work and time in production and assembly. Thefastenings between the loading elements and frame could get loose afterusing for a period of time, and could cause injury to users. Moreover,the fastenings must be done in a fixed and tight manner. The finishedtables and chairs are difficult to carry, transport and store when notin use. Hence they are not convenient to use.

[0005] To overcome the foregoing drawbacks of fixedly fastening theloading elements to the frame and incurring difficulty in transportationand storing, some producers try to drill a plurality of apertures on theloading elements, then thread ropes through the apertures to connect theloading elements to form a loading plane. The tied loading plane may bewound in a roll to facilitate transportation and storing. Howeverfastening by ropes tends to produce uneven surface of the loading plane.The ropes may also become rotten or broken after using for a period oftime and result in falling apart of the loading elements. Users have toredo the threading of the ropes to fasten the loading elements for usingproducts again. It is a cumbersome chore.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The primary object of the invention is to resolve the foregoingdisadvantages. The invention aims to provide a fastening means toconnect a plurality of loading elements to form a loading plane for useon tables or chairs to support human weight and goods.

[0007] Another object of the invention is to provide a fastening meansto connect a plurality of loading elements to form a loading plane sothat users may be able to complete assembly of the loading planes fortables and chairs with least possible processes and time.

[0008] A further object of the invention is to provide a loading planethat is capable of winding in rolls or folding to facilitatetransportation and storing.

[0009] The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features andadvantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from thefollowing detailed description, which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

[0011]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the invention.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the invention taking alongline 3-3 in FIG. 1.

[0013]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the invention taking alongline 4-4 in FIG. 1.

[0014]FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention.

[0015]FIG. 6 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the loading plane for tables andchairs of the invention consists of a loading element 1, a connectingelement 2 for connecting the loading element 1 with another loadingelement (not shown in the drawing), and a bordering element 3 located ona side edge of the loading element 1 for preventing the connectingelement 2 from separating from the loading element 1.

[0017] The loading element 1 is made of, but not limited to, wood, metal(such as steel, aluminum) or plastics, and has a hollow first couplingtrough 11 and two second coupling troughs 12 and 12′ symmetricallyformed at two sides of the first coupling trough 11. The second couplingtroughs 12 and 12′ have respectively a slot 13 and 13′ formed on alateral side thereof. Each slot 13, 13′ has a stopper 14 located thereinat a selected position.

[0018] The connecting element 2 is made of rubber or the like that isflexible, tough or elastic, and has a bridge section 21 which has twofree ends connecting respectively a coupling element 22 and 22′. Theconnecting element 2 can connect a plurality of loading elements 1 toform a loading plane.

[0019] The bordering element 3 may be made of metal, rubber or plastics,and has a side wall 33, and a first plug element 31 engageable with thefirst coupling trough 11 and two second plug elements 32 and 32′engageable with the second coupling troughs 12 and 12′. After theconnecting element 2 is engaged with the loading element 1, thebordering elements 3 are bonded to two sides of the loading element 1 toform appealing rims. Patterns, model numbers or company logos or trademarks may be disposed on the side wall 33 separately or integrallythrough injection forming or molding processes for commercial orpromotional purpose.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 3, when the loading element 1 and theconnecting element 2 are connected, the coupling element 22 is slid intothe second coupling troughs 12 until reaching the stopper 14. The bridgesection 21 is extended through the slot 13 with another coupling element22′ exposed to engage another loading element (not shown in thedrawing). The bridge section 21 keeps the two connecting loadingelements 1 spacing from each other for a suitable distance to facilitatewinding or folding.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 4, after the loading element 1 and theconnecting element 2 are connected, fasten the bordering element 3 tothe side edge of the loading element 1 such that the first plug element31 and the second plug elements 32 and 32′ of the bordering element 3are engaged respectively with the first coupling trough 11 and thesecond coupling troughs 12 and 12′ of the loading element 1, therebyurge the connecting element 2 against the stopper 14 to prevent theconnecting element 2 from falling out. Moreover, the bordering element 3may provide ornamental effect to the loading element 1 to enhance theappealing after assembly. It may also have smooth rims encasing theloading element 1 to protect people from hurting or injuring by theedges of the loading element 1.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 5, a plurality of connecting elements 2 may beused to connect a plurality of loading elements 1 to form a loadingplane 4 which then may be used on tables or chairs to support humanweight or goods.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 6, when a plurality of connecting elements 2are connect to a plurality of loading elements 1 to form the loadingplane 4, the loading elements 1 are spaced from one another for aselected distance. In addition, the connecting elements 2 are flexible,tough or elastic. Hence the loading plane 4 may be wound in a roll or befolded to a smaller size to make carry or transportation or storingeasier.

[0024] Furthermore, the loading element 1, connecting element 2 andbordering element 3 may be made according to pre-set specifications. Asa result, assembly may be done quickly with less works and efforts.

What is claimed is:
 1. An improved loading plane for tables and chairscomprising a plurality of loading elements to form a loading plane, eachof the loading elements having a first coupling trough and two secondcoupling troughs symmetrically formed at two sides of the first couplingtrough, the second coupling troughs having respectively a slot formed ona lateral side thereof.
 2. The improved loading plane for tables andchairs of claim 1, wherein the loading elements are selectively made ofwood, metal or plastics.
 3. The improved loading plane for tables andchairs of claim 1, wherein the slot has a stopper located therein at aselected position.
 4. An improved loading plane for tables and chairs,comprising: at least one loading element having a first coupling troughand two second coupling troughs symmetrically formed at two sides of thefirst coupling trough, the second coupling troughs having respectively aslot formed on a lateral side thereof; and at least one connectingelement for engaging with the second coupling troughs; wherein aplurality of the connecting elements and a plurality of the loadingelements are engaged to form a loading plane for supporting human weightand goods.
 5. The improved loading plane for tables and chairs of claim4, wherein the connecting element is selectively made of rubber orplastics which has flexibility, toughness or elasticity.
 6. The improvedloading plane for tables and chairs of claim 4, wherein the connectingelement has a bridge section and two coupling elements located at twosides of the bridge section.
 7. The improved loading plane for tablesand chairs of claim 6, wherein the engaged loading elements are spacedfrom each other for a selected distance by the bridge section.
 8. Animproved loading plane for tables and chairs, comprising: at least oneloading element having a first coupling trough and two second couplingtroughs symmetrically formed at two sides of the first coupling trough,the second coupling troughs having respectively a slot formed on alateral side thereof; at least one connecting element for engaging withthe second coupling troughs; and at least one bordering element bondedto one edge of the loading element; wherein a plurality of theconnecting elements and a plurality of the loading elements are engagedto form a loading plane for supporting human weight and goods, thebordering element being bonded to the edge of the loading elements toprovide ornamental effect to the loading elements and to protect peoplefrom injuring by the edges of the loading elements.
 9. The improvedloading plane for tables and chairs of claim 8, wherein the borderingelement is selectively made of metal, plastics or rubber.
 10. Theimproved loading plane for tables and chairs of claim 8, wherein thebordering element has a side wall and a first plug element and twosecond plug elements located on the side wall.
 11. The improved loadingplane for tables and chairs of claim 10, wherein the side wall of thebordering element has patterns, models number or company logos ortrademarks disposed thereon.
 12. The improved loading plane for tablesand chairs of claim 11, wherein the patterns, models number or companylogos or trademarks are integrally formed with the bordering element.